I'm glad you asked!
Every miniature zebu owner has different motivations for initially
purchasing their animals. The following is a sampling of what some mini
zebu owners have given as reasons they own and love this unique breed of cattle.
You may find that one or more of these benefits could make miniature zebu a good
addition to your family.

(This section is a brief compilation of information gathered
from publications, internet resources, and personal experience)

The miniature zebu is a relatively rare, unique animal
here in the U.S. The
breed itself originated in India, with records dating back as far as 3000 B.C.
Their first recorded presence in the United States occurred in the 1920's when a
few animals were imported for display in zoological gardens.

Miniature zebu are thought to be the only
TRUE miniature breed of cattle in existence that were NOT created by man.
The breed has naturally evolved over thousands of years to become the animal you
see today. Although there have recently become several new varieties of
miniature cattle, most have been the result of genetic experimentation and many
have achieved their small size by being bred to the miniature zebu. Unlike
these cross breeds, miniature zebu are NOT a "miniature" version of another full
size species. God made them naturally just the way they are, and you will
notice that unlike their man-made cousins, their appearance is very
proportional, with their legs, heads, and bodies all looking like they belong
together.

Pure miniature zebu are fairly rare in
North America, with most remaining in their country of origin, India, where
cattle are considered sacred. Reports indicate there to be only a couple
thousand registered pure miniature zebu existing in the
United States. Miniature zebu are generally a tropical breed, thriving in
hot, humid climates, although many animals are owned on farms up north. They are
exceptionally resistant to disease and are known to be very easy to care for.
Miniature zebu range from 26" to 42" in height, with most averaging 36" to 38",
and they generally weigh between 200 and 500 pounds, depending on the size of
the animal. Life spans of miniature zebu are often 20+ years.

Miniature zebu are cattle. Functionally speaking, they are
no different than any other breed of cattle around the world. They can be
used for meat production, dairy production, labor animals, etc. Remember,
a cow is a cow is a cow; it doesn't have to be big to be a cow.

In countries like Africa, where zebu
cattle are more common, zebu are raised for meat and dairy for personal and commercial consumption.
They are the breed of choice where quantities of grass and other forage are
scarce because they require much less food than their larger cousins. They
are also used as draft animals to pull carts or trench fields. While the
zebu in Africa are generally larger than the miniature variety so treasured in
the U.S., they look and live very similarly to their American cousins.

Because the smallest variation of zebu
cattle was only recently introduced to the U.S., they are much more rare.
This short supply of breeding stock has encouraged most animals to be held for breeding purposes
and pets, rather than slaughtered for their
beef.

Over the next 20 years, as the breed becomes more common, and as
more large farms become subdivided into smaller parcels, the miniature zebu will
likely
emerge as a breed of choice for small farm production, especially when
quantities of space, grass, and feed are limited.

Value

Registered foundation pure (RFP) miniature zebu are very popular and very
rare. Many buyers travel to different areas of the country to locate and
purchase their animals if they can not find them locally. The current
average cost of a RFP miniature zebu bull calf is $500 to $2000, while the average cost of
a RFP miniature zebu heifer calf is $1500 to $3000. Bulls and cows are
normally priced on the higher sides of the averages, and it is very common for
animals to sell in the $3000 to $10,000 price range if they are out of quality stock
or if they possess small size or unique color characteristics.

Miniature zebu make a great investment, with their sale values
often doubling the market value of full size beef cattle. A bred miniature
zebu cow will often pay for herself with her first calf. With the demand
for these unusual animals increasing and the supply relatively small, miniature zebu can
offer a great investment opportunity.

Agricultural Exemptions (varies from county to county,
state to state)

In many communities,
urban encroachment continues to "eat up" once rural areas. The average
person with a few acres or a small farm can be financially strained when
surrounding development increases their property values, in turn driving their
annual property taxes through the roof. Counties provide relief for
individuals who use their land for viable agricultural purposes such as tree
farming, growing crops, or grazing cattle. In most instances, horses do
not qualify a person for an agricultural exemption. Cattle do!

Miniature zebu are the perfect animal to acquire to get an agricultural
exemption (see feasibility for more info). In many instances, including
ours, the savings people get from their first year of exemption exceed the cost
of their initial herd purchase. That means that just owning miniature zebu allows
many people to keep more of their hard earned money, rather than giving it away
to Uncle Sam.

It's no secret why urban property investors seek the services of
"rent-a-cow" companies to graze livestock on valuable properties. They
save themselves a fortune in taxes they don't have t pay, and the land is used for productive purposes rather
than sitting idle.

Less Investment

Because miniature zebu are so much smaller than regular cattle,
there is no need to invest in the high end, specialized equipment required to
manage normal sized cattle. The average horse or cargo trailer is
sufficient to move animals. Even goat trailers or truck bed cages will
work. No additional fencing need be provided as
panel fence, field fence, barbed wire fence, even hotwire can effectively
contain miniature zebu. Interlocking portable horse pen panels can be used
to contain and corral miniature zebu without the need to invest in heavy duty,
permanent corrals and loading chutes. Due to their small size, mini cattle
are less likely to damage your fences and equipment. Miniature zebu eat roughly a third of what a
full size cow might eat, thus they require far less land investment and far less winter
hay. They are extremely resistant to many of the health problems
encountered by regular cattle, and usually require significantly less veterinary and health
care expense than the average cattle operation.

The less you spend on equipment, feed, and maintenance, the more
profitable your cattle venture will be.

BOTTOM LINE - MINIATURE ZEBU
CATTLE WILL COST YOU LESS, SAVE YOU MORE,
AND MAKE YOU MONEY IN THE PROCESS!

There is nothing else quite like a miniature zebu, which makes
them quite a novelty. They are still quite rare, and most people have
never heard of them. It is interesting to see people's reactions after
having seen them for the first time. They are amazed at how small and
gentle they are, and I've not met a person yet who did not like them.
Having a miniature zebu is kind of like having a laptop computer instead of a desktop,
getting all the function in a smaller package.

Many people like having something unique and interesting to look
at. Their are several different color variations of miniature zebu that can also
make their appearance more enjoyable, including whites, blacks, grey/blues,
reds, paints, spotted, and various combinations of all. It can also be fun
to explore breeding options to try and get smaller and more colorful animals.
It seems that "the smaller the better" holds true with miniature zebu
cattle.

Many people enjoy having and caring for
farm/livestock animals, but are looking
for an alternative to the horse that never gets ridden, or the dog nobody wants
to take for a walk. Many of these same people want something of manageable
size that requires little maintenance. Miniature zebu cattle are the perfect
match.

Simply put, miniature zebu make great pets! They can be
every bit as lovable and affectionate as a big dog, especially if they are
bottle raised. They will become as tame as you try to make them, and we've
found that even the wildest zebu can become gentle with a little extra time and
patience. Miniature zebu can be halter broken and trained to walk on a
lead.

Often times, kids are intimidated by large animals.
Miniature zebu present a great opportunity for kids to connect with an animal
that is smaller, easier to train, and easier to care for. Taking care of
animals, in general, teaches kids responsibility. The miniature zebu's
small size and gentle disposition make them easier and safer to handle by kids.

Miniature zebu are always a hit at fairs and as 4-H projects.
Bottle fed calves and the kids leading them receive plenty of attention.
Many zebu owners display their animals at fairs, 4-H events, and even
participate in regional shows and competitions.

Miniature zebu are becoming very popular at petting zoos and
traveling children's displays. They are just so unique to look at, and so
gentle, people love them. After all, it's not every day that people get to
pet and play with a cow.

Miniature zebu get along with other livestock very well, and
they make a great addition to any farm family.

There is an ever growing national movement toward home-grown,
grass fed beef. Many Americans are seeking a healthy, drug and chemical
free alternative to store bought foods. Miniature zebu, while valuable for
re-sale, can also be raised at home to provide a health conscious family with an
endless supply of natural beef. Mature animals are much smaller than full
grown cattle and are just right to fill the freezer of a growing family.

There are articles available on
the internet from people who milk their miniature zebu. I've never tried
it, but they say that it is exceptionally rich in butter fat and the contents
can be used to make cheese and other products. They also say the milk is
delicious and retains many of the nutrients that are otherwise killed during the
packing and shipping process. It might sound crazy not to just run to the
store for milk, but I guess everyone got their milk this way 100 years ago.

Need some landscaping maintenance? Some people get these
hearty, easy to manage little animals to help clear brush on a thick piece of
property, or to keep yard and pasture grass short so they don't have to mow as
often.

Miniature zebu are a breed of choice in many kids rodeos.
They can be used as bucking bulls or ropers. I don't think I'd be too
thrilled about my kid tying himself on to a 1500 lb. Brahma, but maybe a 300 to
400 lb. mini zebu isn't so bad.

Miniature zebu are becoming more of a staple at petting zoos
these days. They are a lot more realistic to house and maintain in small
quarters around small children than a full sized breed of cow. Even our
local zoo has a miniature zebu in its petting area (in case you're wondering, it did not
come from me).

The list of uses and reasons to own
miniature zebu are as different as the
people who own them. These animals have proven to be very versatile, easy
to keep, and a great value for those who keep them. They are a joy
to own!